Hurricane Polo approaches Baja California Peninsula as Category 3 storm

Forecasters expect second mainland Mexico landfall by early Tuesday

Hurricane Polo was tracking north toward the Baja California Peninsula late Sunday, with forecasters expecting landfall on Monday afternoon or evening followed by a second strike on the Mexican mainland by early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. MST update.

As of that update, Polo was about 155 miles southwest of Cabo San Lazaro and 260 miles west of Cabo San Lucas, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph — a drop of 5 mph from a few hours earlier. The storm was moving north at 10 mph.

The forecast track called for Polo to continue moving north for several hours before turning toward the northeast on Monday. “On the forecast track, Polo is expected to approach the west coast of the Baja California Sur on Monday, move across the peninsula Monday night and then approach northwestern mainland Mexico by early Tuesday,” the NHC said.

Forecasters said they expected Polo to make landfall over the Baja California Peninsula on Monday afternoon or evening, then make a brief pass over the Gulf of California before a second landfall in northwestern mainland Mexico on Monday night or early Tuesday.

No significant change in strength was expected before the first landfall. The NHC said it expected Polo to be “at or near major hurricane intensity when it makes landfall” on the peninsula. The agency also forecast Polo to reach the Mexican mainland as a major hurricane before undergoing rapid weakening.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for the west coast of Baja California Sur from Punta Abreojos to Santa Fe; the east coast of Baja California Sur from Loreto to Santa Rosalia; mainland Mexico from Guaymas to Huatabampito; and mainland Mexico north of Guaymas to Bahia Kino.

Hurricane watches covered additional stretches, including the west coast of Baja California Sur north of Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia; the east coast of Baja California Sur south of Loreto to San Evaristo; the east coast of Baja California Sur north of Santa Rosalia to Bahia San Juan Bautista; and mainland Mexico south of Huatabampito to Topolobampo.

Tropical storm warnings were in place for the west coast of Baja California Sur north of Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia; the east coast of Baja California Sur north of Santa Rosalia to Bahia San Juan Bautista; the east coast of Baja California Sur south of Loreto to San Evaristo; mainland Mexico north of Guaymas to Bahia Kino; and mainland Mexico south of Huatabampito to Topolobampo.